Bupropion belongs to a class of medications known as Norepinephrine and Dopamine Reuptake Inhibitors (NDRI). It is used to treat symptoms of depression (low mood) such as:
Bupropion is also used for other conditions, such as helping smokers to quit smoking. Check with your healthcare professional if you are unsure why you are given this medication.
The common side effects generally affect up to 10% of patients.
Most of the side effects listed here will improve with time. Speak with your doctor if they continue, get worse or are affecting your daily life.
Very rarely (affect less than 1% of patients) this medication may cause:
The symptoms of a drug allergy include one or more of the following:
If you experience any of these symptoms, you should stop your medication and consult your healthcare professional immediately.
Inform your healthcare professional if:
Bupropion may increase your blood pressure. It is important to maintain regular check-ups with your doctors.
IMPORTANT:
In some cases, particularly in young people below the age of 25 years, this medication may cause the following changes to a person's mental condition, especially in the first few weeks of treatment or during dose changes:
Please inform your doctor as soon as possible, or for your family or caregiver to inform your doctor if you are unable to seek treatment on your own.
Do not stop taking this medication on your own without discussing with your doctor.
It is important to note that your doctor has prescribed this medication as he/she feels you will benefit more from taking this medication over the possible risks that it may cause, which have a low chance of occurring, and most people take this medication without any of such problems.
Avoid drinking alcohol while taking Bupropion as it may make you feel very drowsy. This medication may interact with other medications. If you intend to take any over the counter medication, supplements, herbal remedy or traditional Chinese medicine, consult your doctor or healthcare professional first to confirm that it is safe to take with Bupropion.
If you are taking Bupropion for low mood:You need to take this medication regularly for a few weeks before you feel its full benefits. You should not stop taking this medication even if you do not feel better at the beginning. Continue to take this medication even after you feel better to prevent your symptoms from returning.Do check with your doctor on the proper length of treatment that you need.
If you are taking Bupropion to quit smoking:Your doctor or pharmacist would have asked you to set a ‘Quit Date’ to stop smoking. Start taking Bupropion as prescribed by your doctor 1 week before the quit date. This medication is normally taken for 7-12 weeks to help you quit smoking. Let your doctor know if you are still smoking after 7 weeks of treatment. Do not stop taking your medication or change the dose without checking with your healthcare professional.
If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is more than half of the time to the next dose, skip the missed dose and take your medication at the usual time. Do not take two doses to make up for the missed dose.
Pack this medication into a black trash bag and seal it tightly before throwing into the rubbish chute or bin.
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